Quick take:

This episode shines a light on how youth advocacy and sustainability education are creating ripple effects in the green building world. Julia Pooler shares how empowering children with the right tools and mindset today can shape the carbon-zero leaders of tomorrow.

Julia Pooler is a passionate sustainability advocate based in Wisconsin, with deep roots in youth education and environmental leadership. From her early days in Girl Scouts to founding the Carbon Zero Youth Initiative, Julia is committed to making green building concepts accessible, actionable, and inspiring — especially for young learners.

In this episode, Julia Pooler revolutionizes traditional construction approaches:

• The Challenge: Sustainability efforts in construction often overlook youth engagement.
• The Solution: Julia's Girl Scout troop created an award-winning project on low embodied carbon concrete, even presenting at Greenbuild 2022.
• ROI: Youth-driven outreach reached professionals, spotlighting embodied carbon while building leadership in the next generation.

• The Challenge: Green building principles rarely make it into early education.
• The Solution: Julia authored a children's book that demystifies green building concepts and celebrates the professionals behind them.
• ROI: Kids begin to understand and appreciate green design early, creating a lasting foundation for eco-conscious thinking.

• The Challenge: Sustainability messages can feel overwhelming or negative.
• The Solution: Julia emphasizes fun, uplifting, and community-driven resources through the Carbon Zero Youth Initiative.
• ROI: More meaningful engagement from students and professionals, driving curiosity and long-term cultural shifts in the built environment.

"There's so much power in the work green building professionals do... never underestimate the impact of sharing that passion with the next generation."

— Julia Pooler

Transform your next project with these steps:

1. This Week: Share your green building story with a young person in your life.
2. This Quarter: Volunteer to speak at a local school, troop, or youth event about sustainable design.
3. This Year: Integrate youth-friendly sustainability resources into your company's community outreach efforts.

🌿 Access full episode resources: Green Building Matters Podcast

🗒 Read the transcript here

👩🏻‍💻 Connect with Julia Pooler:

• Website: www.carbonzeroyouth.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julia-pooler-b55512212

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